Crystal Bitter Ale - No-Li Brewhouse

oberon

North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

My first try of this eastern Washington brewery.Pours into an imperial nonic a rch clear amber with a billowing creamy light beige head atop that left one full ring of lace as it settled into a creamy mass.Aromas were very light with come caramel and dough notes,not much hop presence except for faint leafiness.A really creamy feel to the beer,low carbonation and it gldes down easily.Toffee and biscuit malts dominate the flavors,although sweet not to sweet,my problem is that there really isn't a real hop presence with again just a light leafiness in the finish.The look and feel are top notch,aroma and taste are average.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 21:19:48 | More by oberon

DoubleJ

California

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Going towards the bitter side. Out of a 22 ounce bottle, on to the beer:

This is a reddish amber colored beer with hues of orange. There's a thick head which sits pretty on top and leaves a few strings of lace. The nose starts off with a hoppy note, with piney and lemon peel leading the way before the malt (caramel and toffee notes) contribute their share.

In the taste, Crystal Bitter Ale starts off malt forward. The background is hopped up, which helkps make this beer fun to drink. There's a good toffee crisp note and decent diacetyl action while in the back, there's clean citrus and piney notes. A little of the alcohol spills into the beer, adding a small distraction to the harmony, but despite that, the beer remains a joy. Its medium body with a lingering sweet and diacetyl aftertaste cap off this good American bitter.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 02:46:40 | More by DoubleJ

mactrail

California

3.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with plenty of foam. Quite attractive and the suds last well. Spritzy on the tongue with a light mouthfeel. Slightly fruity hop notes in the aroma.

I'm not sure this is any kind of English Bitter, but it's a very drinkable and pleasant beer. Warm toned with bright malty flavors and just a hint of dark roast. Finishes with a bitter edge. Somewhat earthy with less of the fruity flavor than you might want in the English style. But as a dark-toned hoppy brew, it's way better than many amber ales and the like.

Totally drinkable and nicely balanced. From the 22 oz bottle bought at Mayfair Liquors in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 06:13:47 | More by mactrail

beertunes

Washington

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a straight pint glass. Poured a clean, clear, coppery amber color with an inch of khaki colored head that had very good retention and lacing.

The aroma was a nice blend of rich malts and some nicely balanced hops. The flavor was very similar, with the flavors of the malt and hops playing very nicely together.

The body was full, smooth and crisp. Drinkability was very good, easy and smooth. Overall, a very nice beer from a brewery that hasn't overly impressed me. Worth trying when you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2010 21:36:25 | More by beertunes

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a pretty run of the mill esb in terms of flavor, but it has a little something extra that i like quite a bit. it pours a redish coppery color, mostly clear, with a tan foamy head. the smell is caramely english malts and an oatmeal smell that works really well. the flavor is mostly malt forward, but not really sweet at all. there is also something clever about the yeast, imparting a mellow spice and warmth. the body is full but refreshing, and the carbonation is bright. this is an appropriate fall beer and probably damn good with a plate of chicken wings or something. i like the mealt heaviness without all the sweet.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 19:50:23 | More by StonedTrippin

smakawhat

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. 2012 GABF gold medal winner in the category Extra Special Bitter.

A real nice beautiful crystal clear dark chestnut brown, with orange hued edges for the body is on the pour. A light tan head forms creamy at first, four fingers deep, then keeping a real nice crown with some soapy retention. Light mixes of sized bubbled carbonation come up, some cola sized, most of them smaller. A real nice beautiful looking beer, best part about it.

Nose is a mild sense of dry malt, light toffee, and a sense of char. Slight tannic nut quality also more like a brown ale. Subtle but good.

Palate fills nicely with some good depth even with a very light body. Toasty malts and light sensing malts. Most of the taste hits in the back end on the palate in the swallow. Not much herbal or fruity estery character to this interestingly enough. Tannic dry not character comes through like a classic brown ale.

Drinks incredibly easy, and very enjoyable. A real good balance to this beer, very impressed with No-Li's line up so far.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 22:16:55 | More by smakawhat

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first Northern Lights’ ale and I’m clearly off to a good start. They serve ‘em a bit too cold here, but I haven’t yet acclimated to the dry eastside climate so I’ll make do with a bit of cold for now.

Crystal Bitter is billed as a hybrid of British, American, and German styles. It is cold filtered and lagered, resulting in a beer that boasts a lively kick of bitterness and refined clarity. The body is ruddy-bronze with a velvet head and low carbonation. The super abundance of hops leaves fine lace on the glass and a faint hop aroma. A slight malty flourish protrudes but the flavor is primarily defined by a zesty sting of bitterness that damn near reaches out and slaps you in the face. The lagering process has kept the beer clean enough to allow a bracing surge of bittering hops that still drinks well. Crystal otherwise approaches the threshold of being overly bittered, especially for an ESB.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2007 18:22:05 | More by RedDiamond

flagmantho

Washington

3.71/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: medium brown-orange hue with a haze-free body and a light effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy tan foam. I really like the depth of color here!

Smell: sweet caramelly aroma with a lightly bready character. Some toastiness and a light earthy hop character are also present. Nice, although a little sweet.

Taste: much more toasty and biscuity than the aroma. Drier up front than the smell, but sweeter toward the end. Hop bitterness is actually good: both balanced and bitter enough for the style. Pretty decent!

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a mild carbonation but a decent creaminess. Not bad.

Overall: this is a pretty tasty example of an English bitter. Some of its biscuity/toasty notes just don't happen to suit my palate. If those flavors don't bother you, then this beer is definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:15:47 | More by flagmantho

tdm168

North Carolina

3.79/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Thanks to jtd1969 for opening this bottle

A - orangish amber with a soft, off white head

S - very faint aroma; hints of caramel

T - caramel, mildly bitter, faint citrus

M - medium bodied, well carbonated

This is a rather simple though quaffable beer. It has a nice, subtle flavor that keeps you interested but also doesn't make you over think. This is definitely a nice, lighter offering that is worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 00:02:23 | More by tdm168

maximum12

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to the indescribable bfg75 for this extra. 22 oz. bottle from a brewery I've never heard of while watching a bit of Gladiator...this pleases me. Split with my wife.

Pour from the cool, minimalist glass is a vibrant, red-oak tinged liquid with scarce carbonation. Nose is past light slipping into naught, really, just this side of a cool glass of water.

Crystal Bitter Ale doesn't taste like any English Bitter, or anything else, that's ever passed the gates of my teeth. My first impression is of English tea vs. English ale, a very herbal, steeped quality. Mid-section is a light dusting of caramel, touch of citrus. Mild bittering flags down the aftertaste, & there's a bit of soap dragging this down, along with more tea. Very crisp, except for the anti-bacterials.

Strange beer that's kind of tasty, but not as clean as I feel ike it should be, & the soap scum really hurts as the beer warms. Decent enough.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 02:39:17 | More by maximum12

Reidrover

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

According to the label this is a "hybrid beer"..lager conditioned and coldfiltered ..yet an "ale".
Comes in a 22 oz brown bomber.
A very nice looking beer, a dark garnet colour sort of hazy, a massive creamy tan coloured head that stays around.
The smell is rather subdued but it is fresh and malty.
Nice malt profiles hit the tongue first taste then the hoppiness can be discerned later..this beer finishes fast not too much after taste.
Nice , creamy and smooth mouthfeel.
Good drinkable beer from Spokane.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2003 04:43:05 | More by Reidrover

harrymel

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Bigfoot Pub - where Madonna made her cinematic debut.

Pours the usual copper with a solid light tan foam and brilliant clarity. Smells of tea, light crystal malts, some herbal hop and noble, English character. Flavor is slightly bitter with a decent modified sweetness and some tea character. Just slightly sweeter and I'd be quire reminded of Fuller's ESB. Medium bodied with light carb and a semi dry finish. This is a decent enough offering. I spent many nights getting blasted on this beer when i first started drinking, and it is validating to know I have decent tastes.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 22:44:27 | More by harrymel

Redrover

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Per the menu, this beer combines the best aspects of English, German & American brewing techniques. It is lagered and Cold Filtered.

The beer was served in a standard pint glass. It is a clear mahogany with minimal head and very nice lacing.

The aroma is slightly medicinal with a bit of herbs and pine.

The taste is slightly bitter and piney. The malts add a nice brown bread quality and the beer seems balanced.

The mouth achieves being both soft yet substantial. This is a very sessionable beer. This is one of their most popular offerings and 3 of the 4 people I saw getting growlers picked this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2005 18:24:10 | More by Redrover

Beaver13

Colorado

3.08/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22 oz bottle. Pours slightly hazy ruby amber with a small off white head that quickly goes to a thin dusting that leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is sweet bready caramel malts with a little fruit and hops.

The flavor is sweet, nutty toffee and caramel malts with a medium bitter finish that balances it. The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, this is one of the better ESBs I've had which is not usually a style I care for.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 07:13:36 | More by Beaver13

woemad

Washington

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought a 1pt 6oz bottle at Huckleberry's (only place I've seen it sold in bottle).Has an ok head, with nice lacing. Brownish amber in color. Odor was citrusy with a little caramel - probably going to be hoppy. Hops are most noticable taste component, but there's a little caramel maltiness in the background. I'd have preferred it was a little more assertive in that regard. I wouldn't call this a great beer, but its still a pretty good bitter. Its also very local, so I just have to support it

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2003 14:20:55 | More by woemad

RJLarse

Washington

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I picked up a bomber of Northern Lights Crystal Bitter Ale at a grocery store to taste, review and enjoy. I poured this beer in to a pint tumbler.

Pours a nut brown color with a red hue when held to the light, and is clear. A foamy one-finger, beige head forms which is somewhat resilient, but dissipates to a creamy thin film on the surface of the beer. The head produces moderate lacing on the sides of the glass.

The smell is fairly mild but fruity. There are floral scents, citrus, and hops.

The initial taste is of malted grain, with a nutty cereal flavor. There is a mild hop finish, and a mildly bitter aftertaste.

Mouth feel is smooth and weighty, with very little carbonation.

This is a drinkable beer. According to the label it’s a “hybrid” beer, and I would agree it’s not what I would expect from a true English bitter. It’s darker and not as bitter as I expected, but a very nice brew just the same. I think Northern Lights Crystal Bitter would be a good fall and winter beer, and I’ll probably have it again some time.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2006 23:52:38 | More by RJLarse

rangerred

Tennessee

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a nonic out of a 22oz bomber.

Pours a slightly hazy dark brown with a one finger off-white head. Reallyg great head retention and large clumps of lacing.

Lots of toffee and caramel in the aroma with some hints of dark fruit. Earthy hops sneak through along with a little bit of toast. No real faults but it is pretty weak all around.

Toffee and dark fruit in the taste along with a quick shot of alcohol. There is some hazelnut and toast with a touch of maple syrup. Some earthy hops in the background stay buried. Bitterness is on the moderate side and helps dry out the mouthfeel towards the finish.

Overall, a nice ESB but it lacks some of the fruity depth of some English examples. Nicely done but it doesn't blow me away.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 20:45:20 | More by rangerred

beergoot

Colorado

4.06/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Solid copper body topped with a thick, chunky head; good carbonation bubbling up from the glass. Biscuit and caramel malt aromas; warm bread. Buttery feel with medium body. Taste is very malty with emphasis on the caramel; nougat and toffee; diacetyl notes are there; smooth hop bitterness.

This comes across as a very malt-intensive beer; rich and flavorful all around. Very well-done; very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 01:13:14 | More by beergoot

Bookseeb

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first one from this brewery. Appearance is a dark brown amber with a nice stick around head, having fair lace. Smell of grainy light sweet malt. Taste is has a light grapefruit mild bitter, grainy malt that finishes a mild bitter sweet. mouthfeel has medium body with good carbonation. I am impressed with the head, it pretty much sticks around til the end. It's not a traditional bitter, but still a good local bitter.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2010 03:04:51 | More by Bookseeb

BrewerB

California

4.14/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Picked this up from Lets Pour last week week. Gotta love the two day shipping (from WA to CA). Poured into an Old Rasputin nonic pint glass this beer is reddish-copper in appearance, slight haze. Rocky light tan foam is persistent and sticky. Caramel and medium-toasted bread/nutty malt aromas taking center stage in the aroma. Some supporting hops are noted, floral in nature. More bready malt makes it's way through to the flavor as does an earthy quality which I'd suspect comes from the hops. Biscuits in the background, slight spiciness in the finish. Medium in body and carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 02:20:26 | More by BrewerB

Zraly

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew was purchased as a 22 ouncer. The bottle is your standard brown with a blue, green and pink-toned label with what is most likey Mt. Spokane as the backdrop for the label. Northern Lights Brewery assert that they use English, German, and American brewing methods to create "a hybrid beer of undeniably satisfying character."

The head didn't stay around long enough...but fret not (and the bubbles that did stay were big and beautiful). The left-over lace danced gracefully down the side of my glass. The color of this rich brew pours a deep amber with tones of brown in it. A real treat to look at.

As a whole, this is a very tasty, assertive beer. The initial notes hitting the nose are floral in nature. The flavor carries this onto the tongue, enveloped with a strong, caramel-malt gradation. It ends superbly clean with the exception of a faint hint of an odd "antiseptic" nuance. It very well may be a type of hop (flavor) I am not accustomed to. I also taste a trace of a yeasty hot biscuit-n-butter flavor. Pretty interesting dimensions in a lone beer.

I would have rated this beer much higher except for the odd, little flavor that emerges prior to the finish. That is the only critical point to be made about this ale. Because I wish to support the smaller brewers of the Great NW, and because I think this beer could grow on me...I'm going to buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2002 21:55:12 | More by Zraly

youradhere

Arkansas

4.45/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours bright copper, off white head leaves a cap of lacing. Smell is sweet mangoes, slight pine, booze and slight sulfur. Taste- kinda weird but in a good way. Initially I get the same mango flavor and some other fruit I can't quite place; nice crisp hop bitterness begins to drown out the flavors. Mouthfeel is light and airy, malt flavors are there but muted. This is almost like a light IPA; if the malt were more forward- which it should not be this is perfect- it would taste more like an IPA. Carbonation is medium and prickly. Overall a decent beer; the hoppiness would keep me from drinking too much of this, but I am glad I had it and will pick up more of it.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 04:45:19 | More by youradhere

tbeck

Washington

2.78/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a deep amber with a slight clarity. Very thin brown/white head that dissipated into a decent collar, nice laciness. Aroma was malts, very little hops. Taste was very bitter but the only flavor was cereal grains and some malty sweetness. Very watery and thin texture. This was not enjoyable, the bitterness without any decent flavor killed it.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 04:50:39 | More by tbeck

Talisker

California

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle purchased on a lark at Rocket Market on a trip to Spokane, WA.

The label description makes this sound like a Frankenstein beer with respect to style, but it holds together well. To my SF Bay Area palate, this is like a pleasant hybrid of Anderson Valley's Boont Amber and Anchor Steam.

Pours a deep reddish brown, medium-sized creme-colored head. Nose of very clean malt, sweet but not too sweet, not too dry, some slight pleasant dough. Taste is beautifully integrated - starts off sweet, but not at all cloying, sort of like a typical red ale. Turns a corner with some extraordinarily crisp English-style bitterness (is this the lagering?), maybe too much, since the sweetness doesn't really return on the finish, leaves a too-lingering dryness afterward.

But I like this beer. Would happily make it a regular drinker, like I already do Boont Amber and Anchor Steam. I'm now going to try to find out more about this brewery!

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2008 23:39:56 | More by Talisker

KJH

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My bottle is slightly over carbonated.

Pours a loose head that fades quickle. Medium dark amber with very little hop aroma.

Very drinkable as there is moderate bitterness and balanced malt. The lack of hop aroma is appropriate for the style. Some peat flavors late in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 03:45:49 | More by KJH